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Can’t run Windows Update or MBAM Full Scan

ReallyFreeSpirit
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ReallyFreeSpirit

ReallyFreeSpirit

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Booted up today, Not successful.  Get desktop and an immediate message that Windows has encountered a problem and closed. Clicked OK and got blue screen and memory dump, followed by a restart.  After restart, got another blue screen. Tried Safe Mode restart, but don't know how to proceed.

At this point, have no idea how to stabilize the machine so that I can continue. I may want to do a dump of hard drive contents to an external drive.

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Psychotic

Psychotic

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I think the best solution here is to backup your files and do a clean reinstall of windows.

 

I´m sorry I have no better news for you... :(

 

 

Recommendations: How to protect yourself

  • System Updates
    Please ensure to have automatic updates activated in your control panel.
    For further information and a tutorial, see this Microsoft Support article.
  • Protection
    What you need is one (not more) virus scanner with background protection. Additionally I recommend a special malware scanner to run on demand weekly.
    Personally I am using avast! Antivirus Free Edition and Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. They offer good protection for free.
    • To keep your browser free of advertising, you may install the Adblock Plus browser extension.
      It will filter unwanted advertising out of the website´s content.
    • To protect yourself from accidentally visiting malicious web sites, install the Web of Trust (WOT) browser extension.
      It will display a green (safe), yellow (unknown) or red (potentially dangerous) icon for a visited website within your browser.
      In addition, before accessing a dangerous classified web site, a warning screen is displayed.


    [*]Up to date Software
    Keep your Windows and your third party software up to date. The easiest way to get infected is an outdated windows, followed by: browser(s) (including add-ons and plug-ins), Adobe Flash Player and Adobe Reader, Java Runtime Environment, your antivirus program and so on. These links may help you to check:

    [*]Backup
    Hardware issues, malware, fire, lightning strike: There is a long list of different ways to loose all your data. Back up your files regularly. Use the windows internal backup function or a third party tool and save your data onto an external hard drive, cloud storage, optical media like CDs or DVDs or (if available) a professional network backup system. [*]Behaviour
    The commonest error when using a computer is "error 80" - what means that the error is located about 80cm in front of the monitor. This is a common joke between IT support technicians but it shows that all the safety mechanisms won´t help you if aren´t careful enough.

    • While surfing the internet, don´t click on anything you don´t know. In the worst case, it infects your system with malware.
    • Watch your step in social networks! Many cyber criminals use them to spread malware, mine personal pata (to be sold to advertising companies, for example) or simply do damage to other users. Even if a received hyperlink within a message seems to be coming from one of your friends, have a closer look. In addition, don´t click everything.
    • When installing software, have a look to each of the setup windows and uncheck any additional toolbars or free programs that may be offered additionally. Most of today´s setup procedures contain potentially unwanted programs so keep them off your system.
    • Avoid gaming sites, pirated software, cracking tools, keygens, and peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing programs.
      They are a security risk which can make your computer susceptible to a wide variety of malware infections, remote attacks, exposure of personal information, and identity theft. Many malicious worms and Trojans spread across P2P file sharing networks, gaming and underground sites.



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ReallyFreeSpirit

ReallyFreeSpirit

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Yes.  I can boot in Safe Mode, although the screen resolution is difficult to use, as there are many icons present.

I have a USB external hard drive that I would like to use to back up certain data.  I have not yet attached the USB drive, as the notebook was quick to restart after the blue screen.

I am communicating through a desktop available to me.

Any instructions you can provide would be helpful and much appreciated.

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Psychotic

Psychotic

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Let´s try something else:

 

 

System File Check (offline mode)

Enter System Recovery Options.

To enter System Recovery Options from the Advanced Boot Options:

  • Restart the computer.
  • As soon as the BIOS is loaded begin tapping the F8 key until Advanced Boot Options appears.
  • Use the arrow keys to select the Repair your computer menu item.
  • Choose your language settings, and then click Next.
  • Select the operating system you want to repair, and then click Next.
  • Select your user account an click Next.

To enter System Recovery Options by using Windows installation disc:
  • Insert the installation disc.
  • Restart your computer.
  • If prompted, press any key to start Windows from the installation disc. If your computer is not configured to start from a CD or DVD, check your BIOS settings.
  • Click Repair your computer.
  • Choose your language settings, and then click Next.
  • Select the operating system you want to repair, and then click Next.
  • Select your user account and click Next.


On the System Recovery Options menu you will get the following options:

  • Startup Repair
  • System Restore
  • Windows Complete PC Restore
  • Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool
  • Command Prompt

Select Command Prompt
  • In the command window:
  • type in notepad and press Enter.
  • The notepad opens. Under File menu select Open.
  • Select "Computer" and find your system drive letter and system path (for example, D:\windows\) and close the notepad.
  • enter the following command:



sfc /scannow /offbootdir=d:\ /offwindir=d:\windows


Replace the red and pink parts with the informations you obtained from the last step of this tutorial.

Note: Depending on how your computer is setup, the Command Prompt, when used from outside of Windows, doesn't always assign drive letters in the same way that you see them from inside Windows. In other words, Windows might be at C:\Windows when you're using it, but D:\Windows from the Command Prompt in System Recovery Options.

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ReallyFreeSpirit

ReallyFreeSpirit

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Also, I just noticed that there is a space between the red backslash and the / following. The first time I tried the command it did not work at all, since it failed and I needed to backspace to remove "notepad" from the cmd line. The space was difficult to determine, as the font is small.  After removing "notepad" and adding the space, I got the result shown in my last message.

(I've copied the sfc command below and was then able to see the space.)

sfc /scannow /offbootdir=d:\ /offwindir=d:\windows


 

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ReallyFreeSpirit

ReallyFreeSpirit

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Late yesterday PM I booted up and was able to copy all data that I need from the notebook to the USB external drive that I mentioned in a previous post. So, I don't think that I need to download the Kaspersky Rescue Disk.

That said, you recommended previously "I think the best solution here is to backup your files and do a clean reinstall of windows."

That may be the best option at this point.  The notebook came with Windows Vista Home Premium 64b pre-installed (no discs provided), so I will have to find out how to reinstall this; a talk with Dell and/or Microsoft will be needed.  Both companies are not noted for their assistance, but I will persist.

I've also queried the web threads concerning my problem(s) and note that there are a few possible solutions available, but I'm somewhat pessimistic about how truthful these may be.  Many of them are only interested in selling software that doesn't guarantee any solutions.  I don't know if you've looked at or tried any of their recommendations.  If you have and know that any particular process won't work, please let me know.

I suspect that going through the Microsoft chat process would result in them telling me that they can solve this problem (price unknown), so that may be a last resort if I am not able to re-install the Windows vista software.

Your post of 16 December 2013 - 04:41 PM has valuable recommendations for preventing future problems and I have printed that message.  I thought that I had been careful about those recommendations, but obviously something went wrong.  Thanks for the post.

So, if you have nothing further to report, please accept my thanks for the good effort.

I may report back how this goes with Dell and Microsoft, just for your information. It may take a day or two.

Bob

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